Disabled woman unable to escape flames, dies in Marlborough fire

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — A heartbreaking situation unfolded in Marlborough early Thursday morning when a disabled woman was killed in a fire because she was unable to escape the flames.

The fire broke out inside a duplex at 86 Neil St. after 5 a.m.

Neighbors said the unidentified woman in her 50’s didn’t have good use of her legs and was trapped inside the building when the fire broke out.

Fire Chief Kevin Breen said neighbors called 911 when they heard smoke alarms going off inside.

“It’s a duplex,” Breen said. “The victim lived on the left side. There is significant fire and heat damage on the first floor. Again, it’s still under investigation. We know where the victim was found. We don’t know where the victim was when the fire originated and at this time we don’t have a cause.”

All of the damage was contained to the left side of the building and residents on the right side have been allowed to go back inside their home.

In the afternoon fire officials announced the cause of the fire was improperly disposed of smoking materials.

Cox Media Group